Surgical advances in the treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis

Abstract

Neuromuscular disorders are a group of diseases affecting the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. Children with neuromuscular disorders frequently develop progressive spinal deformities with cardio-respiratory compromise in the most severe cases. The incidence of neuromuscular scoliosis is variable, inversely correlated with ambulatory abilities and with a reported risk ranging from 80% to 100% in non-ambulatory patients. As surgical and peri-operative techniques have improved, more severely affected children with complex neuromuscular deformities and considerable co-morbidities are now believed to be candidates for extensive surgery for spinal deformity. This article aimed to provide a comprehensive review of how neuromuscular spinal deformities can affect normal spine balance and how these deformities can be treated with segmental instrumentation and sub-laminar devices. Older concepts have been integrated with newer scientific data to provide the reader with a basis for better understanding of how treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis has evolved over the past few decades. Recent advances, as well as challenges that remain to be overcome, in the surgical treatment of neuromuscular curves with sub-laminar devices and in the management of post-operative infections are outlined.

Key Words: Neuromuscular scoliosis, Surgery, Sub-laminar bands, Luque rod, Unit rod

Core tip: In patients with neuromuscular disease, the likelihood and severity of the scoliosis increase with the degree of neuromuscular involvement. There is little doubt that segmental instrumentation techniques have revolutionized the care of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis by providing lasting correction and significant relief of pain and by restoring quality of life and sitting position. The state of knowledge regarding neuromuscular scoliosis is a dynamic process, and a current literature review is mandatory. The somewhat large bibliography for this subject reflects the many opinions and findings currently available.

INTRODUCTION

Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deformity of the spine with lateral, antero-posterior and rotational components. In most cases, the disease is idiopathic. Non-idiopathic cases are often secondary to neuromuscular diseases affecting the neuro-musculo-skeletal system.

Children with neuromuscular disorders frequently develop progressive spinal deformities, with cardio-respiratory compromise in the most severe cases. Among patients with neuromuscular disorders, the probability of developing scoliosis is inversely correlated with ambulatory ability, with a reported risk ranging from 80% to 100% in non-ambulatory patients (Table 1). Patients with neuromuscular disorders have many similarities in curve patterns, despite different etiologies of the main disease; therefore similar strategies are implemented for treatment.

Table 1 Incidence.

Diagnosis	Incidence of scoliosis
Cerebral palsy	25% (GMFCS I and II) to 100% (GMFCS IV and V)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease	30%
Myelodysplasia	60% (lumbar level) to 100% (thoracic level)
Spinal muscular atrophy	70%
Friedreich ataxia	80%
Duchenne muscular dystrophy	90%1
Paralysis from spinal cord injury	100%

The incidence of neuromuscular scoliosis is variable. Among patients with neuromuscular disorders, the probability of developing scoliosis is inversely correlated with ambulatory ability, with a reported risk ranging from 80% to 100% in non-ambulatory patients.

¹Corticoids have lowered this percentage[47].

Neuromuscular scoliosis is characterized by a long collapsing spine, pelvic obliquity and changes in sagittal plane alignment that can affect sitting balance and cardio-respiratory function. Long C-shaped thoraco-lumbar and lumbar curves are very often diagnosed in patients with underlying neuromuscular pathologies. Associated negative predictors include osteopenia and concomitant congenital malformations, which are responsible for rapid progression (collapsing spine)[1-3].

Patients with neuromuscular disorders tend to develop scoliosis at younger ages than patients with idiopathic scoliosis, and a large proportion of neuromuscular curves are progressive and often non-responsive to orthotic management. Unlike idiopathic scoliosis, neuromuscular spine deformities can progress beyond skeletal maturity, particularly in wheelchair-bound patients[1,3-6].

Surgical treatment is more complex in neuromuscular scoliosis than in idiopathic scoliosis. Complex reconstruction can be necessary to obtain satisfactory results. However, a bone stock of poor quality, longer fusions, the frequent need for fusion to the pelvis and increased bleeding can significantly affect operative time and make such surgery difficult.

As surgical and peri-operative techniques have improved, more severely affected children with complex neuromuscular deformities and considerable co-morbidities are now believed to be candidates for extensive surgery for spinal deformity[1,4-6].

Pulmonary, neurologic, genitourinary, nutritional and gastroenterological comorbidities are common in patients with neuromuscular scoliosis and must be managed (pre- and post-operatively) by a multidisciplinary team of care providers. A multidisciplinary approach is the key to a successful outcome. Comorbidities often make corrective operations high-risk procedures. Orthopedic surgeons experienced in undertaking major spine reconstruction, anesthesiologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, nutritionists and pediatricians must work together to evaluate and handle these complex surgical patients to obtain the best possible outcomes[1,3,7-9].

Furthermore, the post-operative complication rate is much higher (approximately 30%) in patients with neuromuscular deformities, compared to patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Therefore, the risk-to-benefit ratio is an important parameter that must be considered before surgery as the results can be gratifying if patients are properly selected[2,6,10].

Luque rods, or variations on the Luque technique, often remain the preferred instrumentation for neuromuscular curves. The success of treatment depends on the maintenance of a balanced spine on the coronal and sagittal planes over a level pelvis[11-13].

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of how neuromuscular spinal deformities can affect normal spine balance and how such deformities can be treated with segmental instrumentation and sub-laminar devices.

Older concepts have been integrated with newer scientific data to provide the reader with a basis for better understanding of how treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis has evolved over the past few decades. Recent advances, as well as challenges that remain to be overcome, are outlined in the surgical treatment of neuromuscular curves with sub-laminar devices and in the management of post-operative infections.

HISTORY AND PRINCIPLES OF SURGICAL TREATMENT

Surgical management of scoliotic curves in patients with neuromuscular conditions has evolved over the past five decades. Segmental fixation, sub-laminar wires, L-rods, unit-rods and sub-laminar bands have been progressively developed for the treatment of neuromuscular curves and they now form part of the armamentarium of the spinal surgeon in addressing such deformities. The surgical treatment must be adapted to the severity of the deformity and the neuromuscular disease. The treating surgeon should not be a prisoner of a single strategy; rather, the strategy should depend on the health of the patient (Table 2).

Table 2 Surgical risk.

Surgical risk	Walking abilities	Weight	Cardiac Function	Respiratory function (VC)	Sleep	Comorbidities
Average	Ambulatory	> 40 kg	Normal	Normal	Normal	No
Increased	Ambulates with aid	20-40 kg	Reduced	Reduced, but > 50%	Hypersomnia
High	Non ambulatory	< 20 kg or obese	Significantly impaired	< 50%	Nocturnal hypercapnic Hypoventilation, Obstructive sleep apnea	Yes

In addition to neuromuscular pathology, factors such as walking abilities, nutritional status, cardiopulmonary function and the presence of other comorbidities, must be considered prior to surgery to minimize surgical risk. Morbidity is higher in non-ambulatory patients, with reduced weight and impaired cardiopulmonary function.

Segmental fixation (early 1960s)

The concept of segmental fixation was pioneered in 1963 by Resina and Alves from Portugal, by fixation with segmental wiring for the treatment of scoliotic curves[11].

Stainless steel wires are passed through a hole at the base of the spinous processes (one wire per vertebra) and are twisted around to two straight rods placed on either side of the spine.

This technique allows for translation of the spine and correction of the deformity (mostly on the frontal plane) using an even distribution of corrective forces.

Sub-laminar wires and L-rods (late 1970s)

Eduardo Luque from Mexico popularized sub-laminar wires to attach to L-shaped rods during the late 1970s (Table 3)[12].

Table 3 Decade 1980-1989.

Decade-Year of publication	Authors	Patients (n)	Neuromuscular condition	Instrumentation	Complications (number of patients)
1980-1989
1982	Allen et al[13]	10	Cerebral palsy	L-rod
1986	Sponseller et al[14]	34	Cerebral palsy	Interspinous process instrumentation
1988	Gersoff et al[16]	33	Cerebral palsy	L-rod	5 deep wound infections
					Complications rate: 15%
1989	Broom et al[18]	74	Various	L-rod	1 death;
					3 deep wound infections;
					2 pressure sores;
					6 sets of broken rods;
					1 distal rotation and migration of the rod
					Complications rate: 18%
1989	Boachie-Adjei et al[17]	46	Various	L-rod	3 cases of pseudarthrosis;
					3 deaths
					Complications rate: 13%

Most significant works published between 1980 and 1989.

In Luque’s system, two L-shaped rods are placed on either side of the spine, and they are wired to each of the vertebrae. The L-rods are contoured or bent to conform to the curve and to provide proper sagittal alignment. The wires are threaded through the spinal canal at each vertebral level and are then twisted around the rods on each side of the spine. The wires are usually doubled (to reduce the risk of fracturing the lamina), with one end joined by a bead and the other by a loop. The beaded end is contoured by creating a small bend at the tip that will emerge on the cephalad side of the lamina. A flatter contour minimizes intrusion into the canal. However, it is important to bear in mind that once metal wires are passed under the lamina, great care must be taken to ensure that none of the operating team inadvertently pushes one of the wires into the canal. To minimize this danger, each wire should be temporarily bent over the lamina.

Segmental instrumentation with sub-laminar wires results in even distribution of corrective forces with two lateral fixation points on each segment, which provide good rotatory control. The rods apply pressure on the spine to correct the deformity[12-16].

The L-rods and wire constructs aim at translation and coronal and sagittal balancing, rather than derotation, as their principle, so the extent of derotation is not the purpose that is intended to be achieved with this technique. Because there are multiple points of fixation with the Luque technique, the patient does not have to wear a brace after surgery. Therefore, segmental instrumentation with sub-laminar wires has been widely adopted in the treatment of neuromuscular curves because it provides rigid fixation and allows for early mobilization without external support[12,16-18].

Overall, the technique has proved to be safe and relatively easy to perform with a relatively low complications rate, providing rigid fixation and predictable correction with minimal post-operative external support required, and it is applicable for a wide variety of spinal deformities, offers a high rate of fusion with a low incidence of failure of the instrumentation and provides sagittal plane correction comparable to more recent implants.

Unit-rod for segmental spinal fixation (late 1980s)

The unit-rod (U-rod) technique was developed in the late 1980s by Bell, Moseley and Koreska from Canada[19].

This technique uses a U-shaped, double, prebent rod, and it is a modification of Luque’s segmental instrumentation technique, which, in contrast, must link together two single L-shaped rods[20-22].

The distal portion of the U-rod is inserted into both iliac wings, while the middle and proximal portions are wired to sub-laminar wires threaded through the spinal canal at each vertebral level, from the upper thoracic (T1-T2) to the lower lumbar (L4-L5) spine. Sub-laminar wires are progressively twisted around the U-rod from caudal to cephalad to provide gradual deformity correction.

U-rod instrumentation has become a common, standard technique and the primary instrumentation system for the treatment of pediatric patients with neuromuscular spine deformities and pelvic obliquity (Tables 4 and 5). The technique is simple to apply, it is less expensive than most other systems, and it can achieve good deformity correction and a low reoperation rate[19].

Table 4 Decade 1990-1999.

Decade-Year of publication	Authors	Patients(n)	Neuromuscular condition	Instrumentation	Complications(number of patients)	Outcome/Conclusions
1990-1999
1991	Gau et al[34]	68	Various	Luque-Galveston instrumentation	14 hardware problems;
					7 cases of pseudarthrosis;
					3 neurologic deficits
					Complications rate: 35%
1992	Hopf et al[35]	44	Various
1992	Neustadt et al[36]	18	Various	CDI of the pelvis	1 hardware failure;	Posterior spinal fusion with CDI of the pelvis is an effective treatment for patients with neuromuscular scoliosis.
					1 deep wound infection
					Complications rate: 11%
1992	Onimus et al[37]	32	Cerebral palsy		3 deaths;	Pain disappeared in 2/3 of cases;
					10 other	sitting position was acquired in all the cases at follow-up;
						motor possibilities improved in 25% of cases;
					Complications rate: 41%	associated medical pathologies were reduced in 67% of cases.
1996	Sussman et al[38]	25	Cerebral palsy	L-rod		Posterior fusion and instrumentation from the upper thoracic spine to L5 without anterior fusion provides adequate correction and control of spinal deformity for many patients with cerebral palsy
1997	Frischhut et al[39]	41	Various	29 L-rod, Luque-Galveston, CDI and ISOLA; 12 Harrington instrumentation	3 deep wound infections Complications rate: 7%
1997	Marchesi et al[40]	25	Duchenne muscular dystrophy	L-rod with sacral screws		In every patient, a good sitting balance could be restored after surgery

Most significant works published between 1990 and 1999. CDI: Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation.

Table 5 Decade 2000-2011.

Decade-Year of publication	Authors	Patients(n)	Neuromuscular condition	Instrumentation	Complications (number of patients)	Outcome/Complications
2000-2011
2000	Yazici et al[25]	47	Various	ISOLA-Galveston	2 deep wound infections;	ISOLA-Galveston instrumentation is as safe and effective as other types of instrumentation
					2 hardware removals;
					4 cases of pseudarthrosis;
					1 pseudarthrosis repair
					Complications rate: 19%
2009	Modi et al[20]	52	Cerebral palsy	U-rod and pedicle screws	2 deaths;	U-rod with pedicle screws provides good frontal and sagittal plane correction, as well as pelvic obliquity improvement (56% correction)
					1 neurologic deficit;
					17 respiratory complications (atelectasia, pneumonia, hemothorax)
					Complications rate: 38%
2010	Nectoux et al[21]	28	Cerebral palsy	Luque-Galveston, U-rod	1 case of blindness;
					1 death;
					16 respiratory complications (atelectasia, pneumonia, pneumothorax)
					Complications rate: 64%
2010	Modi et al[22]	27	Spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy	U-rod and pedicle screws	1 death;	Although flaccid neuromuscular scoliosis can be corrected well with U-rod and posterior-only pedicle screws, there is a high rate of associated complications
					4 respiratory failure;
					2 neurological deficits;
					1 ileus;
					2 cases of atelectasia;
					3 UTIs;
					7 cases of coccydynia;
					1 rod dislodgement
					Complications rate: 77%
2011	La Rosa et al[24]	84	Cerebral palsy	Universal clamps, hooks and L-rod	5 respiratory complications
					Complications rate: 6%

Most significant works published between 2000 and 2011.

Sub-laminar band technique (late 2000s)

The sub-laminar band devices and technique were first described in 2009 by Mazda et al[23] from France. The technique is also known as the universal clamp technique (Table 5).

The technique of placing sub-laminar bands is similar to Luque’s wire technique. However, while Luque’s wires are made of steel or titanium alloy, the bands with this technique are made of acrylic or polyester material. The bands are supple and, once inserted, cannot be inadvertently pushed into the canal.

The sub-laminar system is composed of a connector, a band-locking set screw, a polyester or acrylic band and, depending on the manufacturer, a rod-locking set screw.

Compared to Luque’s metal wires, the technique described by Mazda et al[23] allows the surgeon to perform progressive tensioning and deformity correction because of the simplicity of the implant and the tensioning of the strips[24].

Sub-laminar bands have the same stress resistance as steel or titanium alloy sub-laminar wires. Moreover, the increased contact area between the bands and bone improves corrective forces and reduces laminar fracture risk[24].

Today, band-only and hybrid constructs, with lumbar transpedicular screws, thoracic sub-laminar bands and pedicle-transverse hooks at the upper end of the curve, have become widely used and have been shown to provide good correction of spinal deformities, as well as reduced operating time, radiation exposure, and blood loss, compared to all-screw constructs.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE OF SUB-LAMINAR BANDS PLACEMENT

Basic principles

Patients can be treated either with band-only or hybrid instrumentation.

Band-only instrumentation (Figure 1) is a construct characterized by two bilateral claws at the upper instrumented vertebra (one per side) and sub-laminar bands as thoracic and lumbar anchorages. Band-only instrumentation should be preferred in non-ambulatory patients.

Figure 1 A 16-year-old girls with cerebral palsy (GMFCS IV). This non-ambulatory patient was operated on with band-only instrumentation. A: Pre-operative supine anteroposterior X-rays; B: Pre-operative supine left bending X-rays (reducibility of 13%). C: Post-operative supine anteroposterior X-rays; D: Post-operative supine lateral X-rays.

The hybrid construct (Figure 2) consists of two bilateral claws at the upper instrumented vertebra (one per side), multiple transpedicular screws as distal anchorages and sub-laminar bands between the upper claws and distal screws. Hybrid instrumentation can be used in both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients.

Figure 2 A 15-year-old boy with a genetic syndrome. This ambulatory patient was operated on with a hybrid construct. A: Pre-operative standing anteroposterior x-rays; B: Pre-operative supine left bending X-rays (reducibility of 24%); C: Post-operative seated anteroposterior X-rays; D: Pre-operative standing lateral X-rays; E: Post-operative seated lateral X-rays.

In cases of severe pelvic obliquity, iliac screws can be added to both constructs. Moreover, Ponte’s posterior osteotomies can be performed at and around the apex for rigid curves (less than 30% reduction on bending films).

Screws and claws

Instrumentation is performed with the PASS^® LP side connection segmental system (MEDICREA, Neyron, France), using 5.5 mm titanium (Ti) or cobalt-chrome (Co-Cr) rods, pedicle screws, auto-stable claws, cross-links and various rod-anchorage connectors locked by nuts.

Transpedicular screws can be inserted with the free-hand technique, and they are mostly placed at the lumbar level.

Auto-stable claws consist of a main pedicular hook and a counter-hook, which can be placed under the lamina or above the transverse process of the upper instrumented vertebra (thoracic region). Upper claws and lumbar screws should be placed before band insertion.

Sub-laminar band insertion

Sub-laminar fixation is performed with the LigaPASS^® system (MEDICREA, Neyron, France), which consists of a titanium alloy connector, a rod-locking set screw, a polyester band and a band-locking set screw.

A portion of the ligamentum flavum must be removed from each intervertebral space. Once the canal is opened, the bands can be placed from caudal to cephalad.

Each band ends with malleable Ti leads. The malleable Ti end is contoured by creating a small bend at the tip that will emerge on the cephalad side of the lamina. Contouring the malleable Ti leads helps to slide the band under the lamina from caudal to cephalad, with a very low risk of damaging the thecal sac.

If two bands must be slid under the same lamina, the second band placement can be facilitated using the first band as a guide. The second band should be inserted between the first band and the lamina. By doing so, the thecal sac is protected throughout the whole insertion maneuver of the second band. Moreover, insertion is easier as the first band can be glided from caudal to cephalad, thus bringing the second band into its movement.

The polyester band can be simply passed under the lamina or inserted in a figure-8 belt (under the lamina and around the transverse process). In any case, attention should be paid to ensuring that the band is not twisted during the passing maneuver.

Reduction maneuver

Once band placement is completed, all the connectors can be slid on the previously contoured rod. Subsequently, the two extremities of each band are introduced into the opening situated below the band-locking set screw, ensuring that each end of the band is paired correctly and inserted through the corresponding connector.

The rods are then placed and properly oriented on both the sagittal and coronal planes without any attempt to reduce the deformity. In hybrid constructs, rods can be locked to the lowest lumbar transpedicular screws and pelvic screws. If band-only constructs are used, the rods are locked to pelvic screws. Locking of the rods stabilizes the construct and avoids undesired rotation during band tensioning. The rods should not be locked to the upper claws to allow for rod movements during band tensioning and subsequent deformity correction.

The LigaPASS connectors must be locked perpendicularly to the rod on the coronal plane by setting the rod-locking set screw. This procedure prevents the connector from rotating around the rod and creates a platform for self-stable band tensioning.

The reduction is performed sequentially by progressively tensioning all the bands with the tension pulleys. This process gradually translates the spine toward the rods and reduces the deformity by sharing forces among all the implants. The tension applied to each band can be assessed by observing the strain gauge on the pulley.

Maximum reduction is achieved when the band connector is seated on the vertebra. Once the desired reduction is achieved, the band is locked within the connector by tightening the band-locking set screw. At this point, the remaining screws and upper claws can also be locked.

WHEN TO OPERATE ON A PATIENT WITH NEUROMUSCULAR SCOLIOSIS

Indications for and goals of surgical treatment

In neuromuscular scoliosis, bracing is usually not effective, and surgery becomes the primary treatment option[8].

The type of spinal stabilization is influenced by the age of the patient, the severity of the deformity, the ambulatory status, and the underlying neuromuscular condition.

Posterior instrumentation for neuromuscular deformity treatment should be segmental and low-profile, with sound pelvic purchase if needed[5,11,18,25]. In all cases, fitness for surgery and psychological status should be assessed prior to surgery, as the results can be gratifying if patients are properly selected.

Surgical treatment is indicated in large curves (> 50°) and in curves progressing beyond skeletal maturity. However, puberty can begin earlier or, more frequently, later in patients with neuromuscular disease (than the puberty of children with idiopathic curves)[1]. Depending on the neuromuscular disease, the rate of progression of the scoliotic deformity during pubertal growth spurt can increase by 2° to 4° per month, especially in patients who are wheelchair-bound. Scoliosis continues to progress beyond skeletal maturity at a rate of approximately 1° to 4° per year if the curvature is greater than 50° at the end of growth, compared to approximately 0.5° to 1° per year for curves of less than 50°[1,8,26].

In addition, neuromuscular curves are responsible overall for a greater decrease in lung volumes compared to idiopathic curves, which, in contrast, are characterized by normal muscle function[27-29].

Sleep-disordered breathing, with or without nocturnal hypercapnic hypoventilation, is a common complication of respiratory muscle weakness in children and adolescents with neuromuscular disorders (Table 2). Nocturnal hypercapnic hypoventilation is a sign of respiratory muscle fatigue and a poor prognosis. It is recommended to perform a polysomnographic evaluation, searching for sleep-disordered breathing in patients with neuromuscular compromise and spinal deformities. Children with neuromuscular scoliosis are at risk for sleep-disordered breathing when the inspiratory vital capacity is less than 60% during daytime hours. Moreover, they are at risk for hypercapnic hypoventilation during the nighttime if their inspiratory vital capacity is less than 40%, and PaCO₂ is greater than 40 mmHg[30].

Overall, the indications for surgery are: (1) A significant curve resulting in functional disturbance and/or cardio-respiratory compromise; (2) A progressive spinal deformity not controllable with orthosis; (3) A small curve with inevitable progression; and (4) Painful deformities.

The goals of surgical treatment are: (1) To prevent curve progression; (2) To maintain the spine balanced on the coronal and sagittal planes, with a level and upright trunk position; (3) To provide a balanced and comfortable sitting position to reduce repositioning; (4) To reduce pain; (5) To reduce the discomfort caused by the impingement of the ribs against the iliac crest on the concave side of the curve; (6) To maximize patients’ health and function; and (7) To maintain walking ability in ambulatory patients.

Although spinal surgery can restore proper spinal alignment, it has some potential disadvantages. In particular, spinal fusion and instrumentation can adversely affect those patients with neuromuscular disorders who have developed functional compensation techniques requiring a short and mobile trunk. Moreover, surgery stops any further growth over the fused segments, and it can accentuate hip deformity[1,2,6,31].

Hip dislocation, pelvic obliquity and the extent of instrumented fusion

A large number of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis have involvement of the sacrum and subsequent pelvic obliquity. However, patients with neuromuscular scoliosis can develop pelvic obliquity from other sources, such as hip joint and other lower extremity contractures, which will eventually affect the lumbar spine. Furthermore, deformity progression can interfere with trunk stability[32,33].

It is important to assess hip motion and contracture carefully in any patient with neuromuscular spinal deformity. Hip contracture and dislocation can secondarily deform the spine dynamically when the patient attempts to accommodate the hip deformity while sitting.

In cases of unilateral dislocation, pelvic obliquity increases spine deformities and can cause ischiatic pressure sores and loss of sitting position. In such situations, hip surgery is recommended. The choice of surgical procedure depends on the morphology of the femoral head and the presence of necrosis and degenerative cartilage changes. The current recommendations are to reconstruct the hip whenever it is possible. Otherwise, a total hip prosthesis or a femoral head resection can be considered. For patients who present with scoliosis and hip dislocation, hip surgery is usually performed before spinal fusion unless pelvic obliquity is caused by the spine deformity. The goal of orthopedic surgery in non-ambulatory patients is to achieve a sitting position with a level pelvis and an upright trunk position[19,22,24,32].

Instrumentation and fusion should be extended to the pelvis in non-ambulatory patients with pelvic obliquity. In contrast, instrumented fusion can stop at L5 or above when the patient is still ambulatory and shows minimal or no signs of pelvic obliquity. Small amounts of pelvic obliquity (less than 10° to 15°) are compatible with comfortable sitting. in contrast, larger fixed obliquities are not compatible with comfortable sitting and must be corrected surgically or, if not fixed, with wheelchair modifications[34-36].

COMPLICATIONS OF SURGERY

Surgical treatment of neuromuscular spine deformities is more complex than the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis[37-40]. Complex reconstruction can be necessary to obtain satisfactory outcomes. However, the post-surgical complication rate is higher in neuromuscular scoliosis patients, compared to patients with idiopathic scoliosis. The Scoliosis Research Society Morbidity and Mortality Committee reported an infection rate of 5.5% for neuromuscular cases compared to 1.4% in idiopathic patients and a new neurological deficit rate of 1.03% vs 0.73%, respectively[41,42]. These rates are often due to the presence of multiple comorbidities. Chronic cardiovascular disease as a consequence of a severe scoliotic deformity can lead to complications such as hypoxemia, hypercapnia, cor pulmonale, and pulmonary hypertension. A preoperative forced vital capacity less than 30% is strongly predictive of pulmonary complications, and a significant association between restrictive lung disease and increased pulmonary complications has been reported[16-18,22,39].

The nutritional status of patients with neuromuscular disorders is extremely important, as nutritional depletion has been associated with increased complication rates[7,34,36,37].

Complications can be divided into early and late. Early complications are those diagnosed immediately after or within 4 to 6 wk from the index surgery. In contrast, late complications are diagnosed more than 6 wk after the index surgery.

Early post-operative complications include infections, cardio-respiratory, neurologic and nutritional issues, prolonged ileus, constipation, fluid overload, skin breakdown, bleeding and death. Late post-operative complications include chronic infections, non-union, coccigodinia, crankshaft phenomena, implant-related issues, loss of correction and inadequate correction[20,21,25,36,37].

MANAGEMENT OF EARLY SPINE INFECTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH NEUROMUSCULAR SCOLIOSIS

Deep infections after instrumented fusion for the management of scoliosis are uncommon. However, when they do occur, they can result in considerable morbidity, costs and compromise of correction. As surgical and peri-operative techniques have improved, more severely affected children with complex neuromuscular deformities and considerable co-morbidities are now believed to be candidates for extensive surgery for spinal deformity. In the literature, the rate of spinal infections has been reported to increase with the complexity of the procedure, ranging between 1.9% and 20.0%[5,7,21,33,43].

In acute deep spinal infection, the goals are to eradicate the infection by proper debridement of infected and devitalized tissues and to maintain the hardware to avoid losing correction. Most common organisms are Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. However, rises in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and S. aureus has been observed.

Various treatment protocols for debridement, soft-tissue management and antibiotic therapy have been recommended with mixed results. The use of the wound vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system (KCI Inc., San Antonio, Texas, USA) has gained increasing popularity in the management of acute, sub-acute and chronic wounds. Vacuum-assisted closure is a relatively new technique for promoting the healing of infected wounds that are resistant to treatment by established methods[33,43].

The controlled application of sub-atmospheric pressure facilitates the formation of granulation tissue, assists debridement of necrotic tissue and acts as a sterile barrier. Increasing use of the VAC system for complex soft-tissue injuries has generally resulted in accelerated wound healing, compared with traditional methods.

Application of the VAC system

The VAC system consists of a polyurethane ether foam sponge with open pores, 400 µm to 600 µm in size, a connecting tube and a plastic sealant. After thorough lavage and removal of all macroscopic contamination, devitalized tissue and loose bone grafts, the VAC sponge is cut and fitted into the wound. The plastic sealant is used to cover the sponge and is applied several centimeters beyond the margins of the wound to create an airtight seal. A cruciate incision is made in the plastic sealant covering the sponge, through which a suction tube is inserted and fixed. The tubing is connected to a negative pressure device. The sponge is compressed at sub-atmospheric pressure (-125 mmHg), continuously or intermittently. “Controlled negative pressure” is used to evacuate edema from the wound, increase blood flow, decrease bacterial load and increase the formation of granulation tissue. The system also assists the debridement of necrotic tissue and acts as a sterile barrier[33,43].

Intra-operative debridement should involve thorough lavage and removal of all macroscopic contamination, devitalized tissue and loose bone grafts. No attempt should be made to remove grafts that are partially or fully fused. Intra-operative specimens for bacteriological culture must be obtained before application of the VAC system[33,43].

Canavese et al[43] treated 14 patients with early post-operative infections in which removal of the implant was undesirable because fusion had not been achieved. These authors had no patients who required removal of hardware and no loss of correction at an average of 44 mo of follow-up.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

In patients with neuromuscular disease, the likelihood and severity of scoliosis increase with the degree of neuromuscular involvement. There is little doubt that segmental instrumentation techniques have revolutionized the care of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis by providing lasting correction, significant relief of pain, and restoration of quality of life and sitting positions. Moreover, continuous evolution in segmental instrumentation has increased the percentage of successful surgical corrections.

However, it must be stressed that although neuromuscular scoliosis can be well corrected with different constructs (hooks, screws, sub-laminar bands, U-rods, L-rods), there is a high rate of associated complications[5,33,44,45]. The complication rates have increased with time, and an increasing number of complications have been reported in the recent literature. This can be explained by the improvement in complication recording but also that more severe patients are now operated. The evidence of such complications should never be underestimated by the treating surgeon, and the rate of such complications is particularly high in patients with flaccid neuromuscular scoliosis, i.e., spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy[22].

The literature regarding the surgical management of spinal deformities in neuromuscular disorders has suggested that bilateral instrumentation and fusion to either L5 or the sacrum are the most effective, and multiple fixation points, such as sub-laminar wires or bands, are preferred[23,24,36,38,45]. In our opinion, instrumentation of the pelvis is indicated in non-ambulatory patients with pelvic obliquity. Fixation of the pelvis can be obtained with iliac screws, while hybrid instrumentation (screws, hooks, sub-laminar bands) or band-only instrumentation can be used for deformity correction. Fusion to the sacrum should be avoided in patients with residual walking ability.

In contrast, ambulatory patients should be fused to L5 at most with hybrid constructs (screws as distal anchorages, hooks and sub-laminar bands as proximal anchorages).

Restoring the sagittal balance of the spine is one of the most challenging goals in scoliosis surgery. Sub-laminar bands have been demonstrated to provide good deformity correction on both the coronal and sagittal planes[46]. Moreover, the operative time, bleeding and radiation exposure are reduced, with a low rate of early or late surgical complications.

The state of knowledge regarding neuromuscular scoliosis is a dynamic process, so a current literature review was mandatory. The somewhat large bibliography for this subject reflects the many opinions and findings presented here[1,10,43,46,47].